Sudek to headline MN angel conference

Tech Coast Angels Chair Richard Sudek and an executive from the X Prize Foundation will be among the speakers at RAIN Source Capital Inc.’s annual conference for angel investors and startups. Organizers expect the RAIN Makers conference, to be held Sept. 23-24, will draw more than 100 angel investors and upwards of 50 startups, said RAIN Source Marketing Manager Tonia Weber. This year, RAIN Source also is hosting a CrowdPitch event at the conference. (CrowdPitch is an American Idol-type competition for startups that RAIN helped bring to the Twin Cities earlier this year). The conference is keeping its focus on three industries: clean tech, life sciences and software. Sudek, a prominent angel investor (Tech Coast is the largest U.S. angel network), will be the key note speaker on the first day. Keith Kegly, vice president of alliances at the X Prize Foundation, will give the key note speech on Sept. 24. X Prize runs entrepreneurial competitions with huge prizes; it’s best known for offering up multi-million prizes to teams that win technology contests focused on private spaceflight. You can find more information on the conference and speakers here.